Cabinet
ISLAMABAD: On Friday, the federal cabinet approved amendments to the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, which governs the registration of madrassas in Pakistan.
This decision followed successful negotiations between the government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), resolving all differences over the controversial legislation.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the cabinet approved the amendments to the Societies Registration Act of 1860 based on recommendations from the law ministry.
This development comes shortly after JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza announced that all issues surrounding the madrassa registration bill had been resolved between the government and his party.
Murtaza indicated that a gazette notification, detailing the final version of the madrassa registration act, would be issued within the next two days.
The legislation is a result of an agreement between the government and JUI-F to support the 26th Constitutional Amendment, as previously stated by JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman.
The madrassa bill, which had already passed both houses of parliament, had become a point of contention between the government and the JUI-F. Following parliamentary approval, the bill required the president’s assent to become law, but President Asif Ali Zardari had sent it back due to legal concerns.
Under Article 75(2) of Pakistan’s Constitution, if the president returns a bill, it must be reconsidered by a joint sitting of parliament, and if passed again, the president is required to give assent. If the president fails to sign within ten days, the bill is considered passed.
In addition to the madrassa bill, the cabinet also approved amendments to the Income Tax Ordinance 2024, which pertain to banking companies, as recommended by the Revenue Division.
The cabinet also gave the go-ahead to policy guidelines for carbon market trading, which were recommended by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination.
Furthermore, the cabinet agreed to assign additional powers to District and Session Judges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as directed by the Peshawar High Court and recommended by the law ministry, to oversee insurance tribunals in the province.
This approval is part of the government’s efforts to streamline and enhance the judicial process in the region.
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